Anti-smoking groups: Cuomo budget cuts effort

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo presents his 2013-14 Executive Budget proposal on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013, in Albany, N.Y. The $137 billion state budget that Cuomo proposed Tuesday would increase spending about 2 percent without tax increases, but New Yorkers would feel some fee hikes. Cuomo's budget proposal to the Legislature provides 4.4 percent more aid to schools and would fund his proposal to improve instruction, including longer school days and school years. State aid to municipalities outside New York City wouldn't increase at a time when many counties and smaller local governments worry about insolvency amid rising costs and shrinking tax bases. (AP Photo)

The American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and other groups urge Cuomo to back off on what they say will the latest of a series of state budget cuts for anti-smoking programs including TV ad campaigns. Their letter was obtained by The Associated Press.

Cuomo said in his 2013-14 budget presentation last week that his budget would be "expanding tobacco cessation efforts."

His proposal calls for consolidating 89 health awareness and prevention programs into six pools. Groups would compete for funds. Anti-smoking groups say that would ultimately reduce funding for their programs.

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The budget proposes $40 million for all the programs, the same total the groups now receive.